That's what allows the Falcons' 300-pound teddy bear to shred double-teams like cheddar, and that's what some of the top college football programs in the country are most drawn to.

“On the field, it's a whole different thing,” Pierson said. “You can't be nice out there.”

Tulsa and Kansas State have already offered scholarships, and several other programs are showing interest in the 6-foot-1, 295-pound defensive tackle.

“When he gets out on the football field and gets his hand down in the dirt, it's trouble for whoever's in front of him,” Cox said. “Nobody can block him. That's why he had 129 tackles, 11 sacks and 34 tackles for loss last year.

“You better go away from him, and even when you go away from him, you're still gonna have problems with him.”

The biggest question that has faced Pierson centers around his size. He weighed 320 pounds last season but used the spring to trim down to 295. Now, he's working to rebuild his body with more muscle, which combined with his natural gifts, might make him a scary sight at the line of scrimmage.

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Did you know?: Though his future seems more promising on defense, Pierson could end up being an offensive guard in college. Some programs, such as Missouri, are recruiting him to potentially play either side of the ball. “Some coaches like his footwork on offense,” Millwood assistant coach Kevin Cox said. “They want big, nasty offensive linemen with that defensive mentality, and that's what Davion is.”